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UzbekistanRestricted
Christian Persecution in Uzbekistan
Overview:
Uzbekistan has long been a highly restricted country, though its government made incremental reforms in religious freedom in recent years. Unity among believers across several Christian denominations and a focus on training and equipping Christian leaders have been positive developments for the small number of Uzbek churches and Christians. Still, it remains illegal to distribute evangelistic literature in public. In addition, on Feb. 21, 2025, a law was passed introducing fines of more than a month's wages and up to 15 days in jail for parents who teach or allow their children to receive any illegal (non-government approved) religious education before the age of 18. The government also requires that every book in the country have a code indicating that it is authorized by the government.
Major Religion:
83 percent of Uzbeks are Sunni Muslims. 2 percent are Christians. Many are irreligious as a result of suffering under decades of atheistic Communist rule prior to the fall of the Soviet Union.
Persecutor:
The government gives families tacit approval to reject other family members who become Christians, or to try to force them back to Islam.
What It Means To Follow Christ In Uzbekistan
Converts from Islam are persecuted by their families, communities and sometimes by the government. Christians outside the Orthodox denomination are considered religious extremists and have been fined and detained for holding worship services, which the government sometimes considers to be illegal religious activity. Orthodox churches meet openly and legally, but most other Christians meet in unregistered groups. Uzbekistan’s government once routinely imprisoned Christians, but in the last four years even fines and short detentions have become very rare.
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Prayer Requests:
- Pray for Omina and her two daughters, who were beaten by Omina's husband after they became followers of Christ.
- Pray for Christian leaders who recently received ministry training to encourage boldness.
- Pray that the government will pass continued reforms to increase religious freedom.
- Pray that Christians who are rejected by their families will stand strong in faith.
- Pray that Christians will have access to God's Word.